Adjustable cup dispenser

ABSTRACT

An adjustable cup dispenser having a minimum of parts, namely an elongated housing for receiving a stack of cups and a control sleeve cooperatively associated therewith, which provide ready support for a stack of cups and also effect positive size adjustment for supporting stacks of varying cup sizes.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Anthony Salvatore Sciascia [56] References Cited z g UNITED STATES PATENTS APPLNQ 8 99 2,365,916 12 1944 Terry warm... 221/303 [22] Filed May 1, 1969 .323 12/1964 Behrensetal. 221/4 [45] Patented June 1, 1971 Assignee American Can Company 3,407,966 10/1968 Gauffin 221/303 New York NY. 3,462,044 8/1969 McKenna 221/308 Primary Examiner-David M. Bockenek Anorneys-Kenneth H. Murray, Robert P. Auber and 154 ADJUSTABLE CUP DISPENSER reward 11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] [1.8. Ci 221/304, ABSTRACT: An adjustable cup dispenser having a minimum 221/310, 221/308 of parts, namely an elongated housing for receiving a stack of [51 Int. Cl 0. A47f 1/04, cups and a control sleeve cooperatively associated therewith, G07f 1 1/16 which provide ready support for a stack of cups and also effect [50] Field of Search... 221/304, positive size adjustment for supporting stacks of varying cup sizes.

PATENTED JUN Hsm 3,581,934

ADJUSTABLE CUP DISPENSER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an adjustable cup dispenser, and more particularly to a unique dispenser which is easily manufactured and assembled from a minimum of parts.

Ever since the advent of the disposable cup, inventors have sought improved ways of mounting or supporting a nested stack of generally conically tapered cups for ready dispensing. These efforts have resulted in a number of issued patents on such structures, which are readily found in Class 221 and in Class 312 of U.S. Patent Office Search Classification. Such dispensers characteristically support the cup stack by engagement with the lowermost cup or cups beneath the mouth or lip rim thereof. Since disposable cups, such as Dixie" cups, are manufactured in a number of different sizes for varying end uses, it is desirable to provide a cup dispenser for home or commercial use which is capable for receiving and supporting stacks of different sized cups as may be desired by the user.

Inasmuch as cups of different sizes commonly have different mouth diameters, the supporting means for the nested cup stack must be of variable or changeable diameter to accommodate the peripheral cup lips of the size cup stack in the dispenser. Such adjustable dispensers of this character are themselves well known in the prior patented art as evidenced, for example, by U.S. Pat. Nos. to Behrens et al. 3,163,323 and Graham, Jr. 3,295,718.

Such prior art adjustable cup dispensers are frequently characterized by rather complex construction as evidenced by the above patents, and also U.S. Pat. Nos. to Tansley 2,315,827, Lime 2,489,096 and Atwood et al. 3,071,292. A simple plastic dispenser relying merely upon resilient cup-supporting fingers for size adjustment compensation is present in McGurk U.S. Pat. No. 3,315,842.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The instant invention improves upon cup dispensers of the prior art in providing an adjustable cup dispenser characterized by its absolute simplicity of manufacture and assembly, while yet providing sure and positive size control adjustment for the varying sizes of cups employed.

This is uniquely effected by providing a size adjustment control sleeve carriedby and mounted directly upon the cup stack supporting fingers. Further, the control sleeve may be readily snap-secured onto the fingers. The dispenser is thereby easily molded and readily fabricated, thereby providing a superior product at minimum price.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The subject invention may be best understood when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the adjustable cup dispenser of the present invention, with the lowermost cup of a cup stack depending therefrom;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the two elements comprising the cup dispenser;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 with the cups omitted;

FIG. 4 is a partial side sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a partial side sectional view similar to that shown in FIG. 4 with the cup-supporting finger in the fully open posinon.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings, there is shown at an adjustable cup dispenser of the present invention. While not shown, the dispenser may be provided with conventional means for mounting the same on a wall or other supporting surface, as is well known in the art. As mentioned, the subject dispenser uniquely comprises but two elements. Thus, the cup dispenser comprises as a major member an elongated housing 12, and a second member comprising a generally cylindrical control sleeve 14.

The housing 12 is preferably molded in one piece from plastic material having properties of relative rigidity but with a modicum of resilience, such as Delr'in acetal resin, a product of the DuPont Company. The housing includes an upper portion 16 which may be aesthetically tapered and having a normally closed upper end to prevent ingress of dust or dirt into a stack of cups received therewithin. Toward the lower end of housing 12, the same is provided with a thickened rim portion 18 having a downwardly facing circumferential groove 20.

Further, depending from the thickened rim 18 and integrally formed therewith are a plurality of cupor stack-supporting fingers 22, shown as four in number, spaced equidistantly around the circumference of the downwardly open housing. In the illustrated form of the invention, the fingers 22 are provided with thickened lower portions providing an inwardly directed cup-lip supporting surface or shelf at 24. It is to be understood that the surface 24 also functions to separate the lowermost cup from the stack during dispensing and the surface 24 shown is merely illustrative and that any well-known configuration of stack-supporting surface may be used, especially those that more positively dispense cups singly.

The fingers 22 are each provided with a radially outwardly facing groove 26 intermediate their length and in a common plane which constitutes a cam control groove.

Control sleeve 14 may likewise be formed in one piece from plastic and be contoured as desired for aesthetic appearance, so long as the same includes a substantially cylindrical upper portion 30 which is received within the downwardly facing groove 20 of the housing. The rim 18 thereat thus minimizes the possibility of dust entry past sleeve portion 30 onto or into the cups.

A multifaceted cam ring 32 is integrally formed internally of control sleeve 14. The cam ring 32 is provided with a plurality of differing radius cam faces around the inner periphery thereof. Thus, in the illustrative embodiment and as best seen in FIG. 3, the cam ring 32 has a series of radially innermost arcuate cam faces 34, an intermediate series of cam faces 36, and a series of radially outermost cam faces 38.

It will be seen that the control sleeve 14 may be easily and quickly assembled to the housing 12 by merely telescoping the sleeve 14 upwardly over the downwardly extending fingers 22 until the top rim 30 of the control sleeve 14 is positioned within the rotation guide groove 20. Simultaneously, the cam control ring 32 will have flexed the several fingers 22 slightly inwardly in passing upwardly thereover, until the plane of the outwardly facing grooves 26 of the fingers is reached, whereupon the fingers will snap outwardly and interengage with the cam control ring 32 as seen in FIG. 4, thereby rotatably mounting and supporting the control sleeve 14 upon the depending fingers of the housing.

With the disclosed construction, it will be seen that the control sleeve cannot easily or accidentally be removed by a child or other person using the dispenser, while yet permitting the ready assembly referred to, as well as the positive control of the dispensing orifice dimensions to accommodate a cup stack of selected size as noted hereinafter. a

While the upper end of the housing 12 may be provided with a removable cap or cover of a form well known in the art to permit ready insertion of a stack of cups into the housing from the top thereof, it is preferred to provide a closed housing as shown and to fill the housing 12 from the open bottom thereof. 7

To this end, and as a feature of the invention, when cam control sleeve 14 is turned so as to dispose the outermost cam faces 38 in radial alignment with the fingers 22, as seen in FIG. 5, the inherent resiliency of the fingers will cause the same to flex outwardly to the full open position permitted by cam faces 38, which is wider than the mouth or lip L of the cups C to be used therewith. Fingers 22 normally have an outward bias against sleeve 14 even in this position. 3

Accordingly, a cup stack may be readily inserted into the dispenser by elevating the stack vertically upwardly through the open dispensing mount 40 of the control sleeve 14.

After the stack of cups C is elevated so as to position the lip L of the lowermost cup above the support surface 24, the sleeve 14 is turned so as to position the desired series of cam faces 34 or 36 in radial alignment with the fingers 22 as determined by the particular size cup C. Ramp areas 42 between adjacent cam faces permit smooth rotation of the sleeve 14 as the fingers move radially inwardly or outwardly.

ln this connection, the control sleeve 14 is desirably provided with means such as cup size indicia as shown in FIG. 1 which is selectively aligned with cooperating means such as a fixed spot or mark 39 on the housing as the cam sleeve 14 is rotated, thereby to indicate to the user the particular positioning of the fingers 22 within the cam sleeve 14.

If desired, cooperating stop means may be used to align the sleeve 14 and housing 12. If desired, a conventional click-stop provision may be added to insure a positive positioning of the housing 12 in relation to the sleeve 14. On such a click-stop arrangement as shown wherein knot 43 in the sleeve 14 coacts with one of the notches 44, 45, 46, in the housing 12. Notches 44, 45, 46, are represented by indicia A, B, and C respectively.

Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the indicia A and B which when respectively aligned with the mark 39 indicate that the several resilient fingers 22 are respectively positioned by cam ring 32 for supporting a cup ofgiven capacity such as a 5-ounce cup or a 9-ounce cup respectively. A further indicia mark C is provided on the sleeve 14, which mark when aligned with the mark 39 on the housing, indicated that the several fingers 22 are thence in radial alignment with the cam faces 38, and thus the fingers 22 and dispenser are at maximum opening for bottom insertion of additional cups or dropping any present supply fully therefrom.

While the cam ring 32 within sleeve 14 is shown as having cam surfaces 34, 36 two different sizes of cups, plus the third surface 38 for the open or load position of the fingers, it is obvious that a greater or varying arrangement of cam surfaces may be provided with the ring as desired by the manufacturer. In like manner, the indicia may be modified to suit the particular purposes intended.

lt will be seen from the foregoing that the instant adjustable dispenser is unique in comprising an absolute minimum of cooperating parts, while yet providing for positive adjustment of the cup supporting finger position so as to insure accurate metering or dispensing of cups from the stack thereof as grasped and pulled down by the user. No metal parts are required which might corrode or break, while with the normal wear of plastics, the dispenser as disclosed has a virtually unlimited service life, requiring no tools for either initial assembly or subsequent size and adjustment.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

What I claim is:

1. An adjustable cup dispenser comprising:

a housing having a bottom opening for receiving a stack of nested cups therewithin for bottom-dispensing from the stack;

said housing having integrally formed resilient means for supportively engaging a lowermost cup externally thereof;

and control means carried by said cup-engaging means said control means having means for effecting positive radial adjustment of said cup-engaging means to accommodate the support of cups of varying sizes.

2. The cup dispenser of claim 1 wherein said housing and said control means each respectively comprises a single structural element.

3. The cup dispenser of claim 1 wherein said cup-engaging means comprises a plurality of substantially vertical fingers depending externally from adjacent said bottom opening of said housing;

and said control means is mounted upon and carried by said fingers.

4. The cup dispenser of claim 3 wherein said control means comprises a sleeve rotatably journaled on said fingers.

5. The cup dispenser of claim 4 wherein the upper end of said sleeve is rotatably received within said housing to minimize dust entry into said housing.

6. The cup dispenser of claim 5 wherein the upper end of said sleeve is received within a downwardly facing groove in said housing.

7. The cup dispenser of claim 4 wherein said sleeve includes integrally formed cam means mountably and carryably engageable with said fingers to positively flex the same radially inwardly and to allow the same to move radially outwardly, thereby to effect radial size adjustment of said fingers.

8. The cup dispenser of claim 7 wherein said cam means comprises an inwardly facing cam ring on the interior of said sleeve for engaging said fingers.

9. The cup dispenser of claim 8 wherein said cam ring is received within outwardly facing slots on said fingers, thereby to mount said sleeve on said housing, said cam ring including a plurality of series of varying radius cam faces on the inner periphery of said cam ring, all faces of any selected series being respectively alignable with said fingers upon sleeve rotation.

10. The cup dispenser of claim 9 wherein the outermost series of said cam faces is dimensioned to permit loading and unloading of a cup stack past said fingers without obstruction.

11. The cup dispenser of claim 9 wherein said housing and said sleeve are provided with cooperative means to indicate the selected series of cam faces aligned with said fingers. 

1. An adjustable cup dispenser comprising: a housing having a bottom opening for receiving a stack of nested cups therewithin for bottom-dispensing from the stack; said housing having integrally formed resilient means for supportively engaging a lowermost cup externally thereof; and control means carried by said cup-engaging means said control means having means for effecting positive radial adjustment of said cup-engaging means to accommodate the support of cups of varying sizes.
 2. The cup dispenser of claim 1 wherein said housing and said control means each respectively comprises a single structural element.
 3. The cup dispenser of claim 1 wherein said cup-engaging means comprises a plurality of substantially vertical fingers depending externally from adjacent said bottom opening of said housing; and said control means is mounted upon and carried by said fingers.
 4. The cup dispenser of claim 3 wherein said control means comprises a sleeve rotatably journaled on said fingers.
 5. The cup dispenser of claim 4 wherein the upper end of said sleeve is rotatably received within said housing to minimize dust entry into said housing.
 6. The cup dispenser of claim 5 wherein the upper end of said sleeve is received within a downwardly facing groove in said housing.
 7. The cup dispenser of claim 4 wherein said sleeve includes integrally formed cam means mountably and carryably engageable with said fingers to positively flex the same radially inwardly and to allow the same to move radially outwardly, thereby to effect radial size adjustment of said fingers.
 8. The cup dispenser of claim 7 wherein said cam means comprises an inwardly facing cam ring on the interior of said sleeve for engaging said fingers.
 9. The cup dispenser of claim 8 wherein said cam ring is received within outwardly facing slots on said fingers, thereby to mount said sleeve on said housing, said cam ring including a plurality of series of varying radius cam faces on the inner periphery of said cam ring, all faces of any selected series being respectively alignable with said fingers upon sleeve rotation.
 10. The cup dispenser of claim 9 wherein the outermost series of said cam faces is dimensioned to permit loading and unloading of a cup stack past said fingers without obstruction.
 11. The cup dispenser of claim 9 wherein said housing and said sleeve are provided with cooperative means to indicate the selected series of cam faces aligned with said fingers. 